Babblin’ Bollywood Review: ISHAQZAADE – 2012

A few months ago, I had done a preview for this, in which I was very worried about this movie differing from its promos and becoming a lovey dovey piece of crap. However, I’m very glad to say that ISHAQZAADE does not disappoint in any way whatsoever.

such badassery….

ISHAQZAADE is a love story through and through, and the latest addition to the stables of reimagined stories about Romeo & Juliet. That gives a lot away for this movie, but it’s an innovative setting of a small Indian village with competing Political families. It’s new, it’s fresh… and the best thing is: Arjun Kapoor & Parineeti Chopra.

morotcycle + gun = badass

What makes ISHAQZAADE at all original from any of the hundreds of love stories released every year in Bollywood, are these young actors. Their characters are a fresh take on the typical Bollywood couple. The characters of Parma & Zoya are brash, crude, ruthless and they’re badass. Their love story is natural, it’s immature in some ways and it’s full of realism.

aww so sweet… well not really.

Arjun Kapoor explodes onto the scene with his portrayal of a loud mouth young son of a family of Political thugs, whose smash mouth ways are charming in some weird way. Parineeti Chopra’s is awesome in her second film and first lead role. This is a young girl whose cuteness may take her far, depending on the types of movies she does going forward.

guns everywhere in this movie…

ISHAQZAADE is by no means epic. It’s a small story, executed well and performed even better by the leads. It’s their movie, and they carry it well. The dialogues keep the pacing alive, and the scenes enjoyable. Surprising that a movie like this is out of the Yash-Raj Films camp, considering it’s content is, somewhat questionable to the typical family friendly crap they usually put out.

such agressive-ness…

The story takes us through the meeting of these two, hailing from Rival families vying for political power in a small town. Their relationship starts off as a need for revenge, however blossoms into true love, with all the consequences that come with it. The supporting cast is all but non-existent, as they don’t really have much to do.

Kudos has to go to the Director for allowing these young actors to do their thing. Kapoor & Chopra might be the next generation of Bollywood. However, I hope Kapoor doesn’t get pigeon holed with these types of crass and thugged out roles.

much better than roses or something…

It’s easy to see why ISHAQZAADE might not have done well at the B.O., considering the source material; the ending obviously wouldn’t gel with majority of the Indian cinemagoers, for this type of a movie.

ISHAQZAADE is a badass love story about a couple that rebels against the world and fulfills their love… by any means necessary. An awesome movie and a much-needed departure from Bollywood’s usual fanfare.

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